|


|

 
 
 

 


  
 




FOREWORD AND OBJECTIVE

This Organization Practice(OP) document provides an overview for use in local training
sessions for first-year associates. It is part of a ³series on functional areas.´ The objective of
the series is to introduce McKinsey practitioners to the basics in each of our functional areas
of expertise. All the documents in the series are comprehensive in nature and describe the
current tools and frameworks in that functional area

At the end of this document, you can find a section describing a selection of the core
documents and handbooks that can give you further details on some of the frameworks
descried here. All of these documents are now on PDNet; and hard copies of them can be
requested from PDNet Express, which will deliver them in 24 hours

The contents of this document have been adapted for local training sessions through
³Switching Tracks´ ² OP¶s first-year module videotape, which communicates the basic
concepts in a concise and visual way using an actual client ² The Scandinavian Railroad
Company. It is 40 minutes long and should be presented in 3 short segments. Between these
segments, the faculty member runs the attached exercises, adds any commentary he/she
considers necessary to clarify the concepts, and provides personal experience on selected
topics. A copy of the videotape and moderator¶s guide with exercises can be requested from
the Firm
This document seeks to answer 4 questions

SECTION 1 Why do associates need to consider organizational issues in every engagement?

SECTION 2 What frameworks do we use to help our clients improve organizational performance?
SECTION 3 What role does an associate play in organization work?
SECTION 4 Where can an associate find out more?
McKinsey¶s mission is to have lasting and substantial impact on our clients.

To succeed, we need to work all three of the critical elements: choose the best strategy,
develop world-class operations, align the organization.

These three elements both reinforce and constrain each other. The best strategy is only
relevant if it is operationally and organizationally feasible. The optimal organizational design
depends upon the strategic requirement and the operational methods of the client.

This document focuses on one vertex of this triangular relationship. It would be wrong,
however, to believe that you can achieve the impact we seek by focusing on one vertex. We
need to consider all three in every study.
CRITICAL ELEMENTS FOR IMPACT

Successful
 



Efficient Effective

 

We only achieve impact when the organizations we serve are successful in implementing the
strategies and operational methods we propose.

However, a recent survey of engagements in which clients failed to implement proposed

strategies found, in three cases out of four, that the client organization was not change-ready or
even capable of implementing the strategy we proposed.

To ensure that we have impact, we need to consider organizational issues as we devise

strategies. We must choose strategies the clients are ready and able to implement or
complement our strategy work with investment in building the organization¶s skills so that the
organization can step up to the challenge the superior strategy poses..
3 OUT OF 4 STRATEGIES THAT FAIL DO SO BECAUSE OF THE
ORGANIZATION¶S INABILITY TO EXECUTE
Percent

„
 



Other
McKinsey
recommendations


flawed Organization lacked
the capabilities to
„ execute strategy



Client not
change-ready or
committed
The demand for organizational work is increasing.

Trends in the marketplace and the evolving nature of our clients largely explain this increase
in demand.

The pace of change in the marketplace is accelerating . A strategic choice or an operational

innovation evokes a rapid reaction from competitor. Rarely can a durable competitive
advantage be found in these choices. Rather it is the development of a unique organizational
capability with the inherent flexibility and commitment to sustain world-class performance
that provides durable competitive advantage in these times of rapid change.

The clients we serve are changing as well. They have increasingly hired in-house strategic
capabilities. Most have built strategy shops close to the CEO. Few, however, have the in-house
capability and objectivity to do the organizational work required to make change happen.
ORGANIZATIONAL WORK GROWING IN IMPORTANCE

 
!




"
Percent of time

ï  
 


‡Quickening pace of
strategic adaptation Ä
 
‡Durable competitive 45 
 
Crafting the
advantage often rooted in answer  
77
unique organizational   
capabilities
 
ï  



 
55
 
 
‡Many businesses acquiring Helping
in-house strategic capability implement 23
‡Making change happen change
remains the ³neglected art´
10 years Today
ago
Source: Survey of 23 MGMs across the Firm
The recent evolution in our clients has not been missed by our competitors. Each of our
competitors has recently introduced a branded organizational element to their portfolio. Their
organizational expertise figures prominently in their marketing campaigns.
COMPETITORS HAVE BRANDED ORGANIZATION TOOLS


   #  


"

BCG Time ±based competition GE

General Systems Process redesign UPRR

Booz Allen Continuous improvement Exxon

United Research Process redesign and facilitation Mobil

Delta Point Transformational change SmithKline Beecham

McKinsey¶s consulting approach must evolve as our clients evolve. These changes provoke a
shift in the nature of our work and an evolution of the role of the associate on engagements.

The increased demand for organizational work impacts associates directly. Associates are
drawn into leadership roles on larger teams at an earlier point in their careers. This places
greater emphasis on the need for associates to develop quite soon after joining McKinsey-
superb team leadership skills.
EVOLUTION IN McKINSEY¶S APPROACH

 $ $
‡ ³The answer´ ‡ Solving for the ³answer´ and the change
process
‡ Managing client teams ‡ Building client capabilities

‡ Small, analytically focused teams ‡ Multiple, highly leveraged McKinsey/client

±±average client team of 3* teams
²Average client team of 10*

‡ CEO counseling by senior people ‡ Coaching and feedback at all levels

*Survey of 23 MGMs across the Firm

Before we dive into the organization materials, we should announce one critical caveat: the
frameworks you are about to see are only as good as the judgment and insight used to fill them
out. The frameworks are often mere checklists, useful tools to ensure you do not overlook a
key dimension. The OP can provide interview guides and questionnaires that you can use to
flesh out the frameworks, as well as applied examples in a range of settings. However, almost
all organizational issues are ³situation dependent´, and almost all client settings are unique.
Your judgment, insight, creativity, and organizational acumen will determine whether you add
value in the client setting .
A CRITICAL CAVEAT

O
O

• 

|
 • 

 
 
 

‡Checklists

‡Surveys, questionnaires

‡Applied examples
•'

%



(%
 % 





ߕ 

%
 

&
A series of frameworks are available to help clients identify and address organizational limits
on effectiveness or obstacles to change. They also point toward solutions.
These frameworks help teams answer two fundamental questions:
What change is needed?
How should the client implement the change?
The OP has derived a set of six attributes that characterize (
(
 


)#|*. By assessing whether your client organization exhibits these six
attributes, you can diagnose whether an organizational performance gap exists as well.
Additionally, the +, will help you identify strengths and deficiencies in the organization.
The +, focus teams on aligning structure, staff, systems, and style to promote behavioral
change and build skills in pivotal jobholders. By contrasting the required skill set (at both the
organization and the pivotal jobholder level) with the current skill set, you can often clarify
the organizational gap that exists.
You complete the diagnostic by filling out the (

 . That exercise helps teams
understand the organizational skill deficits or resistance to change so they can deliberately
plan to build the necessary skills and willingness to change in the organization.
Once the gaps have been identified, the team needs to lay out a change program to close the
gaps. The     

highlights the three critical dimensions of any effective
change program-top down, bottom up, cross-functional. The proper balance among these
dimensions depends on the gap, the client setting, and the competitive context.
Every change program contains some mix of six fundamental energizing elements. Each must
be considered as we design change programs.
This section of the handbook will discuss each framework in turn.
 CORE FRAMEWORKS

((




- ((


(

(
-

What gaps in organizational What organizational What initiatives comprise How do we create energy
performance exist? challenges exist? the change program? for the change program?

V 
(
 
 m+, 
  6    Mï




 
  





CEO Perfor- Winning formula Pivotal jobs Design levers
Vision
led mance Performance
Organizationa communication
management
Strategy Skills l structure
Agend
VISION a/platf Vision and Organizational
Staff
leadership infrastructure
Shared orm
Simple Skills People values Management
systems Problem People
‡Direction setting solving process development
Leadership
style
‡Structuring
‡Bottom-up energizing
(

 
The OP undertook a study of 10 high-performing companies, true industry leaders, that we
knew very well. The companies had sustained pace-setting performance in their respective
industries over 2 decades.
These 10 HPOs shared six management attributes, each of which focuses on performance. By
comparing your client organization to these HPOs, you may identify opportunities to improve
your client organization.
VßHIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPANY´ ATTRIBUTES

((




- ((



(

(
-
• |
 1
 ï




 
(







ð 


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"   
(
  

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 .
  /
'


 

  




 

 



The first three of the six common management attributes:

ð 


2 The leaders of these companies had very high performance
aspirations. For these leaders there was no such notion as ³good enough´. At the
center of these leadership groups, we consistently found demanding, unreasonable
CEOs.

.




(
  


0 2 HPOs spend their time
looking forward, not back. Their strategies drive relentlessly for both profitability
and growth.

ï



"   

%
 
 

  
2
HPOs have a demanding, occasionally punishing, work pace. There is real
accountability, especially at the top. HPOs, while being very p
places to work,
are not always  places to work.
ATTRIBUTES OF AN HPO

ð 


.


  ï



"  




(

  

%

 

 


0   

  

‡ Very high performance
aspirations held by all key
leaders
‡ Demanding, ³unreasonable´
CEOs
‡ Effective working group at
top
‡ Ability to penetrate to micro-
level of their businesses
‡ Single-minded adherence to
simple, clear success
measures-not just financial
‡ Productive ³fear of failure´
‡Highly motivating, if not
inspiring, ³end´ state
‡Frequently oriented toward
industry leadership
‡Consistently striving for both
profitability and growth
‡Passionate defenders of core
businesses
‡Understanding of how
industry(s) works, what
customers want, and what
competitors can do- and how
these might change
‡ Demanding, occasionally
punishing, work pace; on call
all the time
‡ Real follow-through on
accountability ± especially at
the top
‡ Aggressive learning from
things that do not work
‡ ³good´ places to work but
not always ³nice´
‡ Performance shortfalls
change careers
‡ Members feel rewarded by
being part of winning
institution
The last three common management attributes focus on structure, skills, and systems:




 

 

2 HPOs align authority, accountability,
and performance challenges. Lines of communication and approval are simple and are
mirrored from one division to the next.

.
 2 HPOs are world class in at least one critical skill of their
industry, e.g., product development in high technology, risk management in wholesale banking,
direct-to-store delivery in consumer goods, best-cost manufacturing. Additionally, HPOs
exhibit superior process management skills that in and of themselves become a source of
competitive advantage.

/
'








2 The CEO in these companies is the Chief
Personnel Officer. The CEO interacts regularly with the entire leadership group, understands
the individual development needs and goals, and leads staffing reviews.
ATTRIBUTES OF AN HPO (CONTINUED)




 .
  /
'



 

  






 


‡ Straightforward alignment of ‡ Do many things well, but at ‡ CEO is Chief Personnel
authority, accountability, and least 1 functional skill at Officer
performance challenges world-class competence level ‡ Clear focus on performance
‡ Uncomplicated lines of underpins strategy and motivation ± successful
communication and approval ‡ Also focus on building long-term wealth-building
± line to line corporate skill in the way programs seem key
‡ Similar internal structural they run the place ‡ Management processes
units and key management ‡ Company key management ensure leaders have
processes across the processes viewed as real ³informed´ view of key
company competitive advantage contributors 2-3 levels down
‡ Minimal critical staff reviews ‡ CEO leads annual ³staffing
‡ Regular calendar of key review´ ± best people/teams
management processes and in most critical/demanding
communication jobs
‡ ³Bench strength´ is a top
priority
The HPO research found something else common to the HPOs: all 10 were experimenting
with self-governance. Self-governance in these HPOs means empowerment with
accountability. The HPOs share the common characteristic of involving ³a wide range of ³or
³broad cross-section of´ employees in driving for improved performance. Their goal is to
imbue every employee with an owner¶s mind-set.

Self ±governance in these HPOs is different from that practiced in other ³engaged and
empowered´ companies. In HPOs the single-minded objective of empowerment is
performance.

In the matrix below, the HPOs we studied were all in the top half of the matrix (high
performance); many were reaching, in addition, for the right-hand side of the matrix(engaged
and empowered).
PERFORMANCE AND EMPOWERMENT AT HPOs

#
 
High

Performance- Performance-driven,
focused, top- empowered, and
down-driven accountable
organizations organizations

#|
Average

Hierarchical, Activity-driven,
command- and ³engaged and
control-oriented, empowered´
³entitled´ organizations
organizations

Low
Command and control Engage and empower




 (
Most large companies start out in the lower left-hand corner of the matrix (low performance
and command-and-control management approach). We discovered that HPOs that have
successfully transitioned to the upper right-hand corner have   achieved high performance
and then experimented with and adopted empowerment. Empowerment without first
establishing a true performance ethic in the company tends to result in continued low
performance.

If your client falls in the lower left-hand corner of this matrix, it needs to concentrate first on
building a true performance ethic. Empowerment, alone, is unlikely to yield performance
improvement.
TRANSFORMATION PATH
Path followed by high-
performance companies

Path experienced by companies

that fail to instill performance
ethic first
#
 
High
‡Emerson ‡3M
‡Pepsico ‡GE
‡Sonoco ‡Hallmark
‡Sun Trust ‡Johnson&Johnson
‡VF ‡Many high perfor-
mers´ on the journey´

Average

‡Most companies ‡BP

‡FP&L
‡Wallace

Low
Command and control Engage and empower



 (
As discussed above, the first phase of the organization diagnostic identifies performance gaps.
The second phase focuses on identifying organizational issues and impediments to change.
The framework most commonly used to identify organizational issues includes seven buckets
that start with ³S´.
, 

2 An integrated set of actions that deliver a superior value to a set of customers with
a cost structure allowing excellent continuing returns.
12 End-result activities the company must be really good at in order to
deliver the value proposition.
,(
 
2 Simple, agreed-upon principles that say what is important around here.
Taken together, the first 3-Ss define the company s vision: an overriding goal that people in
the organization strive to achieve; that is challenging, valuable, and exciting to them; and
valuable and differentiated to the intended customer. To achieve the vision, the company must
design and align levers to guide the behavior of those holding  ' close to the front
line ± i.e., those who directly affect delivery of value to the customer.
|
 
2 An orderly and predictable system to determine who reports to
whom and how tasks are divided up and integrated.
, 2 The people in the organization considered in terms of their capabilities, experience,
and potential.




2 The processes and procedures through which things get done day-to-
day.


(
2 The way leaders focus their time and attention and the personal tone they
set.
 m ù-S FRAMEWORK ((




- ((



(

(
-
• ||


 ï






 
(



(







Winning formula Pivotal jobs Design levers

|

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


At the heart of we mean by organizational performance is a ³winning formula´ creating a

combination of strategy, skills, and shared values to carry out an organizational purpose.

What links these elements together (the ³overlap´) is the organization¶s vision:

¶ The vision is the overriding goal of the organization ± the place where strategy, skills, and
shared values intersect. It is the single, noble purpose that guides organizational priorities
and gives meaning to the day-to-day activity of the staff.

¶ For example, McDonald¶s has a vision-driven ³winning formula,´ as described below.

McDONALD¶S WINNING FORMULA

Vision :
to become the leading
restaurant chain in the
world

‡ 

 ‡ 6 

‡ •5 
 

‡ 
 ‡ ,
 



‡  

 Strategy Skills ‡ 
 

  
 



‡   
‡ , 
  
 
ð!

Shared
values

‡ 6
‡ ,


‡ 


‡  

Organizations usually change in response to discontinuities ± either external shocks (such as

deregulation ) or internal changes (such as new leadership) that make it clear that the old ,
³grooved´ way of doing things is no longer winning. The successful ones will create a new
winning formula that is based on changes in strategy, newer or stronger skills, and/or shared
values.
Contrasting the new winning formula to the old formula identifies and gauges the change that
the organization is considering and defines the vision for the change program.
A (

  is a creed that summarizes what an organization is trying to become and why.
As such, it guides organizational priorities by redefining and recombining business objectives,
required institutional skills ,and corporate values about what is important around here.
A change vision is at the heart of top management¶s role in improving performance and is
often the first step. It provides the vital bridge between the initial dissatisfaction with the
status quo and the first practical steps taken in a change program ± the articulation of a 
 


 that represents something better that is both 
 and



2
 IMPROVING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Grooved Unfrozen Redirected

Discontinuities

ï"
( 4
 
4

‡New competitors,  

  


, 

 , 
economics
31,1|4 ‡New technologies 4•ï31,1|4
‡Deregulation
,(
 ,(


 1
(

 

‡New aspirations
‡New leader

' (

( 
(


Certain key people in the organization hold positions that determine success or failure in
instituting a new strategy, skill, or shared value. These people fill what we call  '2
We will only succeed in implementing the change vision if we succeed in changing the
behavior of pivotal jobholders.
At McDonald¶s, for example, pivotal jobs include the centralized purchasers of all raw
materials for all stores, the store managers, and the hourly employees who take and assemble
orders.
PIVOTAL JOBS
What people must do

(
(
-
‡ Positions that have direct impact on
delivery of value to the customer.
Typically they
-Design the product
-Make the product
-Sell the product
‡ Positions that must capably master
new skills
(


(
-
‡ Close to the front line
In a recent study at a chain store retailer, the change vision included a significant improvement
in in-store convenience. Two positions were identified as pivotal jobs ± the store manager and
the area operations manager.
This study employed a contrast analysis in two forms. The first considered each element of
behavior and defined how the new behavior would need to differ from current practices.
A behavior contrast analysis often proves helpful in defining precisely how the pivotal job-
holders need to change.
CONTRAST ANALYSIS
Pivotal jobs: store manager, chain retailer

ï

 |
(  4

( 
Use of time ‡ Spend majority of time on daily
routine tasks ± unloading trucks,
stocking shelves, etc.
Job objective ‡ Ensure that day-to day store
operations run smoothly
Critical skills ‡ Conscientious, responsible
‡ Basic math and writing skills
Criteria ‡ Task completion
‡ Financial performance
‡ Devote much more attention to
training/coaching,
evaluating/experimenting with
pricing, staffing, merchandising
‡ Manage store profitability and
implementation of new
convenience strategy
‡ Old skills, plus«
±Good instincts about how to
affect profits
±Leadership qualities
‡ Old criteria plus added emphasis
on«
±Customer service
±Inventory management
±Store appearance
The second analysis contrasted the percentage of time spent on critical tasks under current
practices and envisioned in the future.
 CONTRAST ANALYSIS BY PERCENTAGE OF TIME SPENT
Pivotal job: area operations manager

„

Short vendor contacts ‡ ‡Tailor products, services, pricing, and

 Merchant/
promotion to segments
Recruiting SM and ‡ owner ‡Search for new business
 V
pharmacist ‡Evaluate business and customer service
Disciplining ‡ performance
Coach
Balancing inventory ‡ ‡Expand one-on-one time with SM and
Follow-up on telephone ‡ associates
messages  V ‡ Train and motivate face-to-face for
Inventories ‡ customer service, inventory
Paperwork ‡ management«
Putting out fires ‡ Player ‡Encourage SM to innovate

Monitoring compliance ‡
 ‡Clerical support should eliminate tasks

±Policies
±Planograms V
Answering surveys ‡ Admini-
Filling out appraisals ‡
 ‡Clerical support should eliminate tasks
straor
District reports ‡


 # 

The 3-S winning formula sets the standards, goals, and mission of the organization. How do
you get people (particularly pivotal jobholders) to actually follow those goals?

While you can dictate what skills and shared values you want , (


  


% % 


((
 
(


.
This is provided through the other Ss ± structure, systems, staff, and style. Collectively known
as the ³design levers´, each of these four should be set by considering the 
  skills and
shared values you want to instill in the organization¶s people ± and balancing them with other
designs that might be suggested by other specific skills and shared values needed.

¶ , 
2 Who reports to whom and how tasks are both divided up and integrated.

¶ ,
2 The processes and procedures through which things get done from day to day,
including hiring, compensation, performance evaluation, promotions policy, and training.

¶ , 2 The people in the organization considered in terms of their capabilities, experience,
and potential.

¶ ,
2 The way managers collectively behave with respect to use of time, attention, and
symbolic actions.
 ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN LEVERS AT McDONALD¶S

Winning formula Pivotal jobs Design levers

‡Centralized buying to control fat

|
 content
 

‡Hamburger University degree

required
‡Promotion from within to build
, 

 , ,  experience

31,1|4 ‡Regular inspections

‡Franchise expansion based on high
,(
 


 grades on prior inspections

 
 ‡Many procedural mechanisms
aimed at building employee
enthusiasm and loyalty


( ‡Hard-nosed, rigid attitude on how

to run the business
The skills and shared values must be used to determine needed changes in organizational design. For
example, McDonald¶s specific skill of quality control drives many organizational design decisions.
, 
1. Centralized buying provides more than economics of purchasing. It also helps ensure that
fat content is between 1ù.0 and 20.5 percent and ensures that burgers are 100 percent beef.

, 1. Owner ±operators have more say on quality of operations than absentee investor-owners.
2. Training at Hamburger University ensures that managers really  how to make the
food right. It is a $40 million facility, with ù50-student capacity per 2-week session, and
translation booths for foreign managers. It is the only school in the fast-food industry
accredited by the American Council of Education.
3. Promotion from within builds experience in meeting company standards and reinforces
shared values.
,
 1. Operating systems, including job descriptions and performance appraisals, ensure that
quality of operations meets standards..
2. All franchises are inspected on a regular basis, including

( A through F) on QSC.
3. Unlike other franchises that give rights to territories, McDonald¶s franchises cannot expand
unless they show a history of high quality in operations.
4. McDonald¶s Personnel Action Manual provides mangers with a wide array of programs to
keep crew members motivated and committed.

,
1. Little tolerance for variance from operations standards, except as well-thought-out
 

. No shortcuts allowed.
2. Kroc¶s inspections. Before entering a franchisee¶s office, Kroc would often pick up  the
trash within a two-block radius of a McDonald¶s restaurant and then dump it on the
franchisee¶s desk to show a need for greater cleanliness in McDonald¶s vicinity.
 ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN LEVERS AT McDONALD¶S

Winning formula Pivotal jobs Design levers

‡Centralized buying to control fat

|
 content
 

‡Hamburger University degree

required
‡Promotion from within to build
, 

 , ,  experience

31,1|4 ‡Regular inspections

‡Franchise expansion based on high
,(
 


 grades on prior inspections

 
 ‡Many procedural mechanisms
aimed at building employee
enthusiasm and loyalty


( ‡Hard-nosed, rigid attitude on how

to run the business
The design lever clients exercise the most is probably structure. Too often we hope that by
tinkering with boxes in organizational charts, we can solve organizational problems. Structure
is really about how to arrange people and jobs for optimum performance.
A few assertions about structure:
There is no one 
 structure for any company. Structure choices for a client may change
over a few years, depending on external environment, leaders strengths, and internal
capabilities.
Structural choice should be based on the desired behaviors for the organization, which are
based on strategic direction.
STRUCTURAL OPTIONS

, 


ð


(  
,  
1. Greater uniformity ‡Centralization
across the ‡Small span of control; many layers
organization ‡Functional structure
2. Rapid adaptation to ‡Decentralization
quickly changing or ‡Fewer corporate staff
complex ‡Flat structures
environment, or ‡Business unit structure to match
greater response to strategic direction
market (geographic/product/market segment)
‡Temporary teams across products or
functions
3. Rapid technological ‡Centralized technical staff for
innovation economies of knowledge
‡Decentralized task force for focus,
Initiative
4. Cost reduction ‡Concentrating staff only at level where
integration is most crucial
‡Flatter structures; broad span of control
The (

  framework can be useful for understanding the commitment and ability to
undertake major change. For each management layer and pivotal job, it asks:

( among the important players is able to perform is his/her part in providing the new
skill?

( do they have or lack:

Ú   that the new skill is important?

Ú  

- the ³guy´ willingness to do what ever it takes to develop new skills?

Ú 1  ± that is, personal skills or talents?

Ú |
  ± such as the necessary system support?

Investing time in a change board analysis has helped a number of leadership teams
understand the nature of the current gap and gain insight into the most effective skill-
building program
 CHANGE BOARD ((




- ((



(

(
-
• ||


 ï




 
(



(


 






Capability to leverage
Commitment
Skill to the commitment
be built Individual Organization
Conviction Courage
ability supports/obstacle
Chief executive
(or equivalent)

Leadership group of
area to be changed

Down-the-line
staff affected*

External
Constituencies**

* Modified as appropriate for company

** E.g., customers, suppliers, trade unions
Specific questions can guide you as you fill out the change board.

Will people have to

Ú Learn new skills?
Ú Learn new behaviors?
Ú Reestablish priorities?
Ú Delegate/assume decision making responsibility?
Ú Build new working relationships?
Ú Compromise other agendas?

Do people have the capacity to make all these changes?

Have people had positive or negative experiences with past change efforts?

Is the change consistent with existing cultural norms?

Ú Beliefs /values
Ú Behaviors

A retail chain provided this example of a completed change board.

 CHANGE BOARD ± CHAIN RETAILER EXAMPLE ðp 

ð


 
 





1  |

   

  0

Intellectually Fair to strong Strong, except Little support

Top convinced, but ‡ COO lacks field ‡ No performance measures
management (6) ‡Distant from experience on in-store
field realities ‡ HR position ‡ History of top-down
‡LBO pressures vacant ³customer service programs
Lip service Weak Fair to strong Few support
Other ‡ ³Make the field Moderate Fair ‡ ³Segmentalist´ rivalry
do its job´ among functions
Officers/³owners´ ‡ ³H.O. does not ‡ Inadequate operating
Home office (15) understand what systems
Field (8) it is asking for´ ‡ ³Can do´ style (do not
admit weakness)
Area operations Suspicious, but Strong Fair to weak Overloaded: span of
Managers (125) eager to believe control=60-80
Store managers Cynical (³yet Fair: ready to Fair: most trained ³Horizontal priorities´
another program´) follow clear as ³task masters´ (unrealistic number of tasks
and orders from assigned)
assistants (3,200) above
Associates Mixed , but many ? Surprisingly Turnover increasing; too few labor
(30,000) natural supporters strong, on average hours for full service
A completed change board often suggests the actions that may be necessary to build the
commitment and capability required to implement change within your client¶s organization. In
the chain retailer case, actions included:
1. Lock ± in support
‡ COO as ³champion´
‡ Full ±time change leader (facilitator)
‡ Line accountability
‡ 3-year commitment
2. Create shared responsibility for progress
‡ Three ³skill teams,´ each headed by a field ³baron´
‡ District entrepreneurship: each district manager to experiment with two to three
initiatives and then share lessons
3. Build a success model from below
‡ Focus on one pilot area (14 stores )
‡ Use full-time task force of high-potential area managers (eight managers, 3-to 9-
month tours )
‡ ³Trained ³area managers return to home districts to lead pilot area process there
4. Force awareness of realities
‡ Quarterly workshops to assess progress on skills
‡ Close observation of pilot area (³ If we can¶t make it work in one area, there¶s no
point in talking about company wide programs´ )
5. Restructure field organization
‡ Store staffing standards
‡ AOM span of control, supports
‡ New recruiting/selection
‡ Link to pharmacy strategy/skill gaps
 CHANGE BOARD ± CHAIN RETAILER EXAMPLE Ë
 p

ð


 (

(





 '





1  |

   

  0

Top „2
management (6)  
2  




 


Other 72

(

Officers/³owners´
Home office (15)

Field (8)   



Area operations
82 /
 

Managers (125)


Store managers 

and assistants
(3,200) 2 .

  
Associates 

(30,000)
To answer the question, ³How should change happen?´ , the OP developed the ³organizational
transformation triangle´ that summarizes the three basic management tasks when dealing with
change. Their relative emphasis may vary, but all three of them have to be managed to achieve
fundamental behavioral change.
 ((


6TRANSFORMATION TRIANGLE ((




-

(

(
-
• |
 ï




 ï




 
(











2   


Top Link activities and information
„2 


management
6 in new ways for break-through
Process design, target, performance
communications, etc.
Staffs

Operations

72  

 
 


Unit-by-unit, team-oriented, problem solving
The well-known GE ³workout!´ change program included elements from each dimension of
the transformation triangle.
 GE ³WORKOUT!´

„2 
 2 
 






0
(

‡ Project teams to identify cross-
‡ No.1 or No.2 in every functional issues
business
‡ Process mapping
‡ ³speed, simplicity, self-
confidence´
‡ Delayering
‡ Best practices workshops

72 .
 
 


‡ Town meetings: 2- to 5- day interactive sessions
‡ ³Brand name´ quality processes
‡ Operations: unit-by-unit redesign
The client should seek an appropriate balance across all three dimensions of the
transformation triangle. Overreliance on any dimension will impede change.
BALANCE ON 3 DIMENSIONS IS KEY

/
5

 ð
 #
  



‡Energizing vision ‡Lack of commitment

‡Customer/shareholder/emplo ‡Confusion
yee triad ‡Cynicism
‡Clear performance targets

‡Performance wins ‡Unfocused efforts

‡Relevant knowledge and ‡Ignored or undermined by
skill building management
‡Expansion expectation ‡Cross-functional opportunities
missed

‡Discontinuities addressed ‡Overly complex

‡Clearly understood process ‡Beyond existing skill and
installed capabilities
‡Old systems/structure/
processes eliminated
The OP has defined a wide array of change approaches. Each change approach strikes a unique
balance among the dimensions of the transformation triangle. Your challenge is finding the
change approach that strikes the balance appropriate for your client situation.
OVERVIEW OF 5 PERFORMANCE CHANGE APPROACHES

 .  ð ï
ð
  Structured Empowered Values-driven Cross- Top-down,
process-Driven opportunity- adaptive functional skill-driven
problem driven improvement process building/
solving innovation redesign improvement
(compliance)
   

(

ï"
TOP/AVA Breakthrough TQM CPR Corporate
skill teams
(
 Step change Change-ready, Approaching Cross- New basis for
  
needed quickly flexible theoretical limits; functional competitive
Entitled organization performance ethic redesign advantage
culture  capability in needed needed
place

 40% of Up to each Continuous Quicker, Lasting
compressible team; typically, improvement cheaper, competitive
costs (imposed) stretch targets better advantage
in quality, cost,
etc.
No matter what change program is selected, the following six energizing elements should be
addressed. By addressing each one, the client builds the energy required to make organizations
change.
 M ENERGIZING ELEMENTS
((




- ((



(

(
-
• |
 ï




 
(


 





‡Ambitious, ‡Build commitment

measurable objectives
Performance ‡Establish 2-way flow
Communications
‡Reinforcing feedback measurement ‡Manage expectations
‡Consequences ‡Inspire action

Vision and Organizational

leadership infrastructure

‡Winning formula ‡Systems and process

‡Winning leadership ‡Structure
Problem
group People development ‡Roles
solving process

‡Doer-driven ‡New mind-set

‡Fact-based ‡New skills, behavior
‡People-intensive
The OP has a wealth of experience and research to support the design of each element of a
change program.
 POSSIBLE ACTIVITIES/TOOLS

‡World benchmarks ‡Communications coordination

‡Project performance indicators framework team-job specifications
‡Performance maps ‡Communications channels audit
‡Performance contracts pro forma ‡Stakeholder analysis
‡Best practice examples ‡Communications plan
Performance ‡Communications workshop
Communications
measurement ‡Best practice examples

Vision and Organizational

leadership
‡Leading for success
‡CEO time-leverage
manual Problem
solving process
‡Analytical tool kit framework
‡Analytical problem solving workshop
‡³data to chart´ video and workbooks
‡Client advocacy videos
‡Skill/will/diagnostic
‡Continuous improvement principles
workshop
‡Best practice examples
infrastructure
‡Core process redesign
‡Example role description
People development ‡³ù-S´ checklist
‡Framework for designing skill-building programs
‡Discrete training modules ² management skills (MFS),
leadership skills(LFS), building high-performing teams, project
management guide, designing ongoing improvement
‡Discrete tools ² RJDs, time-usage logs, change-readiness
surveys, signaling change tool kit, how to run a training
workshop
‡Beliefs/behavior-prompt sheet ² staff activity survey
‡Best practice examples
A packaging company applied these energizing elements as they built the skill they called
value-based systems selling (VBSS):
With a clear vision and leadership settled, the company decided on a  
 

 
 that involved six multinational skill teams, each with a credible leader.
Their 

 


 were narrowed to two aspects: in terms of input, they
measured account plans created and number of plans created and number of people
trained; in terms of output, they measured price and market share.
To 
the message, the president embarked on a ³road show´ to
manufacturing and sales locations; the senior managers attended workshops; and a
newsletter/bulletin about VBSS was begun.
The 

 
was modified to establish account teams, global
account managers, and an account planning function.
On the 




 front, an ³ action learning´ program was begun to teach
people more about account planning.
All these tools and activities were focused on achieving a new level of excellence in the core
skill of VBSS that the company knew was critical to its strategy.
VBSS

‡Input ‡Awareness building ± President¶s

±Account plans road show
±People trained ‡Skill building through workshops
‡Outputs ‡Reinforcement through VBSS
±Price network bulletins
±Share

#
 







3 |




(   

‡The leader skill ‡Account teams

for becoming $1 # 
 ‡Global account
billion #




 managers
 
 

‡President as ‡Account planning
sponsor ‡Multinational skill ‡Account-based
teams with 6 credible ³action learning´
champions program
‡Pilot effort with
leadership to get buy-
in and advice
Associates will often step up to manager roles on engagements that address organization
issues and/or implement change. These engagements often involve multiple client teams.
Associates assume responsibility for managing one or more of these client teams. These
engagements also seek the active support of a broader set of client managers. Associates
assume responsibility for developing influential relationships with critical client managers.
Engagements which focus on organization issues therefore provide exceptional opportunities
for associates.
 ASSOCIATES ASSUME MANAGER ROLES IN
ORGANIZATION ENGAGEMENTS

Traditional view of team roles Team roles on organization engagements

Client
manager Client
team

ïð0ð, 
Associate
ED/DCS Client
Client team
manager
ï

 
 ï
Client
manager Client
Sr. team


client

 Associate
exec.
Client
Client team
manager
The effective associate manager serves three functions:

1. The associate manager builds and sustains effective client teams that define, plan, and
implement the change .

2. The associate manager leads problem solving on multiple client teams.

3. The associate manager forges a consensus of support for the change vision among
critical client managers and ensures that managers maintain the energy level required
to effect the change.

All three functions are critical to success. However, in engagements that address organization
issues and /or implement change, building and sustaining an effective team is often the
necessary precondition to success in the other functions. The client team provides the critical
insight, knowledge, and skills required to solve the organizational problem. The associate /
manager needs to build an effective team environment to tap into the essential client input.
The client team should hold the confidence of the critical client managers. Once the associate
manager has earned the endorsement of the client team, the support of the client manager is
much more likely.
MANAGERIAL ROLES


 # 
 (




 

  
 ‡ Focuser

 ‡ Structurer

‡ Quality controller

 ‡ Devil¶s advocate


(





Since effective teams are so fundamental to success in organization work, the OP has invested considerable effort in
understanding how to build (
(
 

. Follow these principles to build high-performance teams.
PRINCIPLES OF TEAM BASICS
ð
 ð



 The team purpose must
 
‡ Inspire the individual team members
‡ Justify the investment of Firm and client resources, as well as the personal investment of each
individual
For an engagement team, the purpose must include reference to 





  The best teams translate the purpose into a well-defined set of tangible and measurable goals.

 
 The goals encompass

 ‡ What will be achieved for the 
in terms of performance
‡ What will be achieved for the 
and its  


‡ Nearer-term goals, as well as ³completion-related´ goals



 The best teams decide up front and throughout the effort how to work together day-by-day, and how
 
 individual team members will apply and develop their skills as they produce collective results above
 ( and beyond what members working as individuals could produce. Their working approach allows
substantive time for ³unstructured´ creative team thinking/brainstorming


  The best teams are composed of individuals who provide or are expected to develop the full range and
 depth of skill needed to fulfill the purpose. Skill development is seen as a key reward for team
participation. This applies particularly to functional skills, but also to problem solving skills and
interpersonal skills
 In the best teams, all team members feel mutually accountable for accomplishing the team¶s purpose
 and performance goals. Individuals do not succeed or fail ± the team does
,
 Superior team performance can only be achieved by a small number of people who can spend
substantial time working together as a team. A group of more than approximately 15 people has little
chance of becoming a superior team
The principles are described much more thoroughly in 

  , authored by Jon Katzenbach.
PRINCIPLES OF TEAM BASICS (








 

, 


 
 



TEAM
BASICS
 



  

 (


 


Source: 

  
A team¶s potential is defined by the quality of its membership. The associate manager should,
whenever possible, participate actively in the selection of team members. Recent research by
the OP has found that most successful change programs were driven by a few impassioned
leaders. These ³real change leaders´ exhibit a common set of characteristics. Look for these
attributes as you consider which client people to include on the team.
REAL CHANGE LEADERS

³People with a reputation for improving performance through people ± and for exceeding
expectations along the way´ *
‡ Commitment to a better way
‡ Courage to challenge existing power bases
‡ Personal initiative to go beyond defined boundaries
‡ Motivation of themselves and others
‡ Caring about how people are treated and enabled to perform
‡ Staying under cover
‡ A sense of humor about themselves and their situations

±  Op 



.

Once the associate manager has assembled the right team and built an effective team
environment, solving the problem should be easier. The principles of good problem solving do
not change for engagements that address organization issues and/or implement change. The
way the associate participates does change, however. Here are a few recurrent themes taken
from interviews with associates after their first organization engagement

Let the team solve the problem. You won t have time to solve the problem yourself when
you have multiple teams to manage. More importantly, the team will feel more
ownership for the solution if you let them solve the problem.

Teams should be productive. Focus the team on action and work. Define specific end
products.

If you have assembled the right team, every member has an important part of the answer.
Engage the entire team in solving the problem. Every team member should have a
challenge piece of the problem.

Meetings are necessary evil for effective teams. Keep them to a minimum. Prepare
meetings carefully so that they are a constructive use of team time.

Listen. Especially on organization problems, the client often knows the answer but needs
help recognizing it.
SOLVING THE PROBLEM

‡ Structure the problem, then let the team solve it

‡ Focus the team on action and work ± not process, talk, and
(




review
‡ Focuser
‡ Keep the entire team engaged ‡ Structurer
‡ Quality controller
‡ Prepare brief, high ± impact meetings
‡ Devil¶s advocate
‡ Listen
If you have the consensus of the team, it should be easier to sustain the support of critical
client managers. A few basic principles merit emphasis:
You need to begin building credibility with client managers early in the study. Talk to them
early and often. Engage then in defining the issues and prioritizing the work. This ensures
that their issues will be addressed.
Managers have specific interests and motivations; these interests explain much of their
behavior. You will be more effective at influencing managers if you spend a few moments
trying to understand their interests. Before each discussion, consider how your
recommendations impact the client manager s interests.
When issues or concerns become apparent, address them squarely. There is little value in
avoiding and issue; it will come out eventually. Many issues evaporate when explicitly
discussed. Many others can be resolved by specific analysis. Issues that persist need to be
factored into the team s thinking.
Whenever appropriate, include key team members in important discussions with critical
client managers. Then client manager will get to know the team members better and place
more trust in their advice. When you include team members, the client manager can sense
first-hand the strength of the team consensus. As an added benefit, team members appreciate
the opportunity to interact with managers, and they can help you interpret the client
manager s feedback.
Good written materials are always useful in client manager discussions. Preparing them
forces the team to explicitly agree on the content. After presentation they serve as a solid
record of what was said.
The opportunity to interact with client managers in one of the more attractive elements of
organization work. Associates can use this interaction to develop client relationship skills that
will be vital in the years ahead.
BUILDING CONSENSUS

‡ Talk to critical managers early and often

‡ Understand the motivations of the critical managers


‡ Address issues and concerns directly 

‡ Include key team members in important discussions

‡ Prepare clear, concise written materials
We hope that you take away four major points from this session:

#
 
is the point of our consulting work, which involves an 

 
 


2
Inevitably, at the heart of all our work is change. And at the heart of change is a respect for
and understanding of 

2
To understand organization performance and bring about lasting change, it is as important to
problem solve for ( ( the engagement process ) as ( ( the engagement issues).
Organization work provides associates an opportunity to stretch their 






 2
WHAT WE HOPE YOU TAKE FROM THIS DOCUMENT

1. Winning performance is based on the integration of strategy and organization

2. Respect for and understanding of people is at the heart of all change
3. Problem solving for process is as important as problem solving for issues
4. Associates have a significant and rewarding role to play in organization work
WHERE CAN AN ASSOCIATE FIND OUT MORE
Selected core documents and handbooks
The overview of core of frameworks in Sections 1 and 2 of this document describes the basics
and provides a template to better understand client organization issues, which should prove
helpful in almost any engagement because no matter what the focus of an engagement is, a
basic understanding of the process of change is necessary to focus on the priorities of the
client

Once you are assigned to an engagement of this kind, you may need to read more about some
of these frameworks or gather handbooks about the topic. As you may know, PDNet contains a
large array of documents that may be useful to you. You can get hard copies of such
documents in 24 hours using ³PDNet Express´ through your local library

However, there are thousands of documents in the Firm¶s databases; therefore, the key for
efficient data gathering and ³getting smart fast´ will be to access only a limited and targeted
selection of documents when you need them. This section provides you with some hints on
key, core documents of the organization practice and related disciplines
Appendix

This appendix contains:

1. HPO bulletins
2. Glossary of ù-S framework
3. Organization transformation triangle
4. Energizing elements
 GLOSSARY OF ù-S FRAMEWORK

Winning formula Pivotal jobs Design levers

‡Centralized buying to control fat

|
 content
 

‡Hamburger University degree

required
‡Promotion from within to build
, 

 , ,  experience

31,1|4 ‡Regular inspections

‡Franchise expansion based on high
,(
 


 grades on prior inspections

 
 ‡Many procedural mechanisms
aimed at building employee
enthusiasm and loyalty


( ‡Hard-nosed, rigid attitude on how

to run the business
 
   # ' ð





STRATEGY |

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- An integrated set of actions to deliver a superior value to a set of customers
with a cost structure allowing continuing excellent returns

( ‡Gives direction and purpose to organization activities

 - ‡Strongly influences what skills the organization needs, what values are
stressed, and how it should be designed
‡Provides benchmark for measuring organization¶s success and redirecting
its activities

(1 ‡Balance between strategic thinking and capability to execute often
- unmanaged
‡Strategy formulation must consider the complexities of external
environment (e.g., discontinuities gaining ) balanced with internal history
and capabilities
‡Increasingly, superb performers frequently win not by ³inventing it first´,
but by doing it best
‡In highly uncertain environments, institutional skills may help dictate
strategy
 
   # ' ð





INSTITUTIONAL SKILLS |


 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


((

- End ± result activities the company must be really good at in order to
deliver the value proposition

(
(
 ‡ To help people focus on the 2-4 skills critical to delivery of the value
 - proposition
‡ They drive organization design ± other organization elements must be
designed to build needed skills

(1 ‡ Institutional skills are organization capabilities, not just abilities of
 managers or other staff
(
- ‡ Strategy work is incomplete without explicit consideration of the
institutional skills required to execute the strategy
‡ Institutional skills increasingly are the primary basis for achieving
sustainable competitive advantage
 
   # ' ð





SHARED VALUES |


 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


((

- Simple terms that say, ³ What is important around here? ³

(
(
 ‡Provide means to achieve value proposition through
 - ±Aspirations, pride, emotion, and energy
±Focus, guidance, and learning orientation
±Solution space/ tie breakers

(1 ‡Shared values are probably the hardest S to influence

(
- ‡But ignore at your peril. Any strategy consistent with deeply grooved
shared values will never be implemented
‡The leadership team must articulate, believe in , and be credible on
shared values
‡Shared values are shaped by obsessive, persistent communication from
leaders
 
   # ' ð





VISION |

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- An overriding goal that people in the organization strive to achieve; that is challenging,
valuable, and exciting to them; and valuable and differentiated to the intended customer
( ‡ßStrategy and tactics are for the battlefield, but the battle must be fought for a purpose
 - of value to society´ •
( %9(  
‡Provides meaning, motivation, and source of pride to attract and retain customers and
able employees
‡Helps drive long-term strategy formulation and development of needed skills and values
‡Supplies courage in the face of the unknown by providing sense of stability and enduring
themes
‡Guides and inspires daily behavior, reducing need for bureaucratic rules and systems
( ‡Leader must set and live by vision for it to permeate institution
1 ‡Best visions are simple, easy-to-understand, and demand nothing short of long-term
- excellence
‡Financial goals (e.g., increase SOM, increase shareholder wealth ) are not visions; they
do not excite the organization¶s people or provide enough competitive differentiation to
serve as standard for behavior
‡Vision is extremely difficult to change significantly without creating discontent, reduced
effectiveness, and even abandonment of institution by its best people and customers
‡However, visions can and must be constantly challenged and changed at the margin to
adjust for the institution¶s changing environment
 
   # ' ð





PIVOTAL JOBS |


 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- Positions, close to the front line, that have direct impact on delivery of
value to the customer (e.g., those who design the product, make the
product, and sell the product )
( ‡Successful implementation of any change hinges upon the pivotal
 - jobholders acquiring new skills
‡Thinking about the new skills these pivotal jobholders must acquire
pushes the depth and rigor of our thinking

(1 ‡Relationship between microskills of pivotal jobs and macroskills of the
- organization
‡Contrast analysis compares microskills required after a major change
program to those currently required in the organization
‡Reverse-engineer the organizational design ± start with the results you
expect; identify the behavioral change needed to achieve those results;
then shape the ³other Ss´ to influence pivotal jobholders to perform as
required
 
   # ' ð





STRUCTURE |

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- An orderly and predictable system to determine who reports to whom
and how tasks are divided up and integrated

( ‡Facilitates coordination and integration

 - ‡Symbolizes priorities
‡Focuses organization attention

(1 ‡Design should support needed skills and shared values
- ‡Structure is most powerful tool for energizing change
‡Structuring is not simple
‡Key structural issues include
±Types of structure
±Span of control
±Centralization vs. decentralization
 
   # ' ð





STAFF |

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- The people in the organization considered in terms of their capabilities,
experience, and potential

( ‡Staff composition and productivity are important determinants of

 - current and future strategic success
‡The people who make and sell the product/service collectively
determine if the client delivers superior value

(1 ‡ Front-line positions require detailed attention to specific skills and
- shared values
‡ Key issues can include who to hire, how to train and coach them, how
to motivate and reward them, and what information to give them
‡ Support positions must reflect the needs of the front-line people
 
   # ' ð





SYSTEMS |

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- The processes and procedures through which things get done from day to
day

( Most important tool for

 - ‡Commanding attention
‡Influencing behavior
‡Indicating how things really work here

(1 ‡Best companies employ relatively few and simple systems
- ‡They should be shaped on a regular basis
‡Important types include
± Management information systems (MIS)
± Incentive systems
± Planning
‡Systems to get right information in the hands of the right people are
increasingly important
 
   # ' ð





STYLE |

 

, 

 , , 
31,1|4

,(
 




 




(


(- The way people focus their time and attention. There are tow types
‡Personal tone (e.g., supportiveness, argumentativeness )
‡How people spend time, what questions they ask, settings they appear in

( The key lever in shaping values and reinforcing strategy

 -

(1 ‡What people do means more than what they say
- ‡The best leaders use style to emphasize a few simple values
‡While personal tone is hard to change, managers can more easily adapt
how they spend time, questions they ask, and settings they appear in